ChatGPT, Attack! OpenAI is working with US armed forces, making cybersecurity tools for them

In a notable departure from its initial stance, OpenAI is engaging in collaborative projects with the Pentagon, including the development of cybersecurity capabilities.

The company, renowned for creating ChatGPT, is actively working on open-source cybersecurity software in partnership with the US Defense Department. This shift marks a change from OpenAI’s earlier restriction on providing its artificial intelligence for military purposes, as per a report by Bloomberg.

Anna Makanju, OpenAI’s Vice President of Global Affairs, revealed in an interview at Bloomberg House during the World Economic Forum in Davos that the company has initiated talks with the US government to explore ways to assist in preventing veteran suicide.

This signals a broader engagement with public-sector applications beyond the technology’s traditional realms.

OpenAI recently modified its terms of service, removing language that prohibited the use of its AI in “military and warfare” applications.

Makanju explained that this decision is part of a comprehensive policy update to accommodate new applications of ChatGPT and other tools, emphasizing that OpenAI still maintains a prohibition on using its technology for developing weapons, causing harm, or destroying property.

Microsoft Corp, OpenAI’s major investor, is actively involved in providing software contracts to the US armed forces and other government entities. While OpenAI revisits its policy, it remains committed to ethical guidelines, ensuring that its technology is not misused for harmful purposes.

Additionally, OpenAI is intensifying its efforts in the domain of election security. The company is directing resources towards preventing the misuse of its generative AI tools for spreading political disinformation.

OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, underscored the significance of safeguarding elections, acknowledging the heightened concerns about the potential misuse of technology in the political sphere.

(With inputs from agencies)